Pump Up Your Book Chats with Joel M. Andre

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Joel M. Andre was born January 13, 1981. At a young age he was fascinated with the written word. It was at fourteen that Poe blew his mind, and Andre began to dabble with darker poetry.

Between the years of 1999 and 2007 Joel was featured in various poetry anthologies and publications. In 2008 he released his first collection, Pray the Rain Never Ends.

Knowing there was something deeper and darker inside of his soul, Joel decided to take a stab at commercialism. Releasing the dark tongue in cheek, A Death at the North Pole, created a dark world among the death of Kris Kringle. Ultimately providing a tale of redemption.

October of 2008 saw Joel release his second book, Kill 4 Me. A tale in which a woman is haunted by a vengeful spirit through text messages and instant messaging.

Taking some time off and doing a lot of soul searching, Joel took things in a new direction and dabbled in the Fantasy Genre with, The Pentacle of Light. The tale dealing with five major races battling for control of Earth, and the acceptance of their God.

Finally, after missing his detective Lauren Bruni, he released the book The Return in October 2009, this time moving the action from the North Pole and placing it in the small Arizona community he was raised in.

Andre’s latest book is The Black Chronicles: Cry of the Fallen about a dead man who seeks revenge on the woman that tormented him in peaceful Northern Arizona.

Currently, he resides in Chandler, AZ.

You can visit his website at www.joelmandre.com.

Q: Thank you for this interview, Joel. Can you tell us why you wrote your book?

This book has been one I’ve been sitting on for about a decade. It began as just an idea, and then the title fell into place.

It took quite a bit of time before everything was planned out to my original vision. This book is the stepping stone is a bigger series I am working on. I think readers will enjoy it.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

In fact, the Eleanor scene was about 5 pages longer than the final version. But after reviewing that scene, I felt it was too drawn out. So I cut out quite a bit of the torture.

The hardest part of this book to write was probably some of the violence. There were times where I felt I went too much into it.

Q: Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

The books with give the reader a few things to think about. But I don’t like to dictate what the reader gets from the book. You can read it on a basic level, or you can pick it apart and find deeper meaning in it. The main goal is to just read and enjoy what you are reading!

Q: What was one of your favorite books as a child?

Chicken Soup and Rice by Maurice Sendak. I think I forced my poor Mother to read me this book a million times.

Q: What is your favorite book as an adult?

That’s a tough one. I’ll say The Witching Hour by Anne Rice.

Q: What are you reading now?

I picked up a Heather Graham trilogy. I am on book 2, Ghost Night. I honestly didn’t know they were supernatural romances. They aren’t too bad, I enjoyed book one.

Q: Do you remember when the writing bug hit?

I’ve always had a passion for writing. I suppose it was when I was very young, let’s say around 6 or 7. I remember the first contest I entered I placed behind a gal named Elizabeth Maaske. The story was about a monster that would spit out acid and eat people. It was really weird, but I was 8….

Q: Besides books, what else do you write? Do you write for publications?

I love to write poetry and I do that for fun in my spare time. My poetry is very Poe when you read it. But, I do write for a living as well. I write online articles on a variety of topics for a company called, Need an Article. I love my job and work for a great group of people.

Q: Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

I do. Let your writing entertain you. Too many people write with other people in mind, instead allow your creativity to shine. That way you end up with a tale you can enjoy. If others end up liking it, that is an added bonus.

Q: Would you like to tell us about your home life? Where you live? Family? Pets?

My home life is pretty low key. I don’t leave the house very often, so I guess that makes me a hermit. I live in Chandler, AZ. My family is all in the Cottonwood/Sedona area of Arizona, so I am still close to them.

Right now, my life is good. I have a great family and pets that I adore. Who could ask for more?

Q: Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

I write in my darkened office. I love the feeling of being in the dark. When I was younger, it scared me. But now, I embrace it. My future eye doctor will appreciate the new home I pay for.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

When I need to get away from the world, I write a new world. I love getting lost in words. There is no better way to relax and escape. I tend to write 7 days a week. It is a part of me.

Q: Were you the kind of child who always had a book in his hand?

I would answer this one with a yes. My grades really began to suffer. I was more interested in books than what the instructor had to say.

Q: Can you remember your favorite book? Growing up?

Chicken Soup and Rice was my favorite. Until, I was in Junior High that is. Then it became anything by R.L. Stine, before I moved on to Anne Rice and Stephen King and Poe.

Q: Do you remember writing stories when you were a child?

My Mother would buy notebooks for school and I would fill them with stories instead. Dragons, murder, drama and anything else I could imagine. It was great fun.

Yes, I remember many tales I had written. In my bedroom, there were notebooks of a number of different stories. Of course, I hope most of those never see the light of day.

Q: What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

For this book, I bought some ad space online. When I remembered Pump up Your Book Promotion, I decided to head in that direction.

Q: Are you familiar with the social networks and do you actively participate?

I have a Twitter, Facebook and MySpace account. I never use the MySpace account, but I am always on Facebook. When I remember I have it, I do use Twitter.

Q: How do you think book promotion has changed over the years?

I think there is a more interactive approach to promotion. There was a time when you could post an ad and be done. People want to get to know authors, musicians and even actors on a more personal level. I think as a far as advertising goes, you will continue to see a trend with promotion being done on a more social level.

Q: What is the most frustrating part of being an author?

Getting your voice out there is pretty tough. It can take awhile to find something that works.

Q: What is the most rewarding?

Having the chance to put your written work out there is amazing. When the process is done and your book it out there…well, you won’t find a better feeling.

Q: How do you think book publishing has changed over the years?

I think there is a better chance for smaller authors to get noticed. The Kindle has been a great step towards giving authors a wider audience.

Q: If you had one wish, what would that be?

I would wish people could no longer feel hate. If that single emotion was gone, this world would become an amazing place. Too much focus is put on other ethnicities, religion and sexuality. If we spent half the time that we focus on hating others and used it to find cures for diseases and curing world hunger. Our world would be free from so many issues we face.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

I would love to live in Maine. The area is so beautiful from the pictures I’ve seen. I always say I am going to go and then something comes up. One day, I do hope I can make it there.

Q: Your book has just been awarded a Pulitzer. Who would you thank?

I would thank God and my family. That would be the ultimate honor.

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Maria Andrade, DEFIANCE AND REDEMPTION

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Irene Woodbury, HONEYMOON ROULETTE

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Wendy Leighton-Porter, THE SHADOW OF ATLANTIS

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M.B. Lewis, THE PILATE SCROLL

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Kathleen Shaputis, HIS KILT DROPPED HERE

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Joni Ankerson, TO KILL OR BE KILLED

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Aiken Brown, SON OF A SOLDIER

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Laura Preble, ANNA INCOGNITO

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Lena Gregory, GRAVE CONSEQUENCES

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Jennifer Chase, FLOWERS ON HER GRAVE

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Elysia Strife, A PROMISE IN ASH

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Miri Leshem-Pelly, SCRIBBLE & AUTHOR

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Shami Stovall, KNIGHTMARE ARCANIST

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Suzanne M. Hurley, THE TEDDY BEAR EYE CLUB

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Sharon House, BRIMSTONE AND WATER

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Michael Allan Scott, GREY DAZE

"Just wanted to thank you for putting together a great tour for You Won't Remember This. I think the author was pleasantly surprised and overall very pleased."
Bacon Press Books

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T.M. Wallace, WINTERGARDEN

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Deborah Serani, DEPRESSION AND YOUR CHILD

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Ashley Fontainne, GROWL

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Mary Lawlor, FIGHTER PILOT'S DAUGHTER

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Lee Papa, TEMPLE OF ALL KNOWING

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Madeline Wynn, DAUGHTER OF THE FALLEN

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Mary Lawlor, FIGHTER PILOT'S DAUGHTER

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Karen-Anne Stewart, ASH TO STEELE

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Lauren Carr, Best-Selling Mystery Author of Mac Faraday, and Lovers in Crime, Mysteries

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Kaylin McFarren, BURIED THREADS

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"I just wanted to let you know that tonight Steven Manchester's Twelve Months became The Story Plant's first #1 Kindle bestseller. This couldn't have happened without you. Barb's cover is an absolute showstopper, Sue's copyediting boosted the overall work, Jackie's proofreading kept all of us honest, and Tracee Gleichner's blog tour started what has become an avalanche of great reviews."
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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach